Machines for wrapping flexible material on cores



Nova 1957 E. WOOSEY 2,1352

MACHINES FOR WRAPPING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ON CORES Filed July 1, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H1721 r er E. WOOSEY 2,813,392

MACHINES FOR WRAPPING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ON CORES Nov, 19, 1957 s Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1953 E. WDOSEY MACHINES FOR WRAPPING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL 0N CORES Filed July 1, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O M MACHINES FOR WRAPPING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL N CORES Edward Woosey, Poynton, England, assignor to Lancashire Dynamo & Crypto Limited, Manchester, England Application July 1, 1953, Serial N0. 365,442

Claims priority, application Great Britain July 1, 1952 14 Claims. (Cl. 57-10) This invention relates to machines for winding one or more lengths of flexible material, particularly tape, on an elongated core such as an electrical conductor.

The invention is applicable to the manufacture of electrical coils, particularly where the insulating material is required only intermittently along the length of the conductor. For example, it is common practice, when winding electrical coils, to use conductors which are insulated along their entire length by the application of one or more coverings of lapped thread, braid, tape or enamel, which meets the general requirements of insulation between the turns of the coil but it is often required to apply additional insulation at various portions of the coil to meet electrical requirements. This secondary or additional insulation has usually to be applied by manually winding tape onto the conductor as it passes to the former. Machines have been constructed that will apply the additional tape to the conductor whilst the coil is being wound, but, as they are stationary, they have to be placed a substantial distance away from the coil former when large rectangular formers are used, because of the considerable rise and fall of the conductor as the coil former is turned. For example, with a five foot by three foot rectangular former, the variation in height of the point at which the conductor reaches the former is fifteen inches. As a result of the substantial distance between the taping machine and the former, the difliculty of estimating precisely when the machine is to apply the additional tape arises.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a machine which has the advantage inherent in hand taping of being able to apply the tape exactly where required, without the necessity for predetermining the position, but with the greatly increased speed of application that can be achieved by a conventional taping machine.

According to the invention, therefore, a freely movable machine for winding a length of flexible material, such as tape, on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable or conductor, is located in space by the core itself, in all directions transversely to the length thereof and is provided with means for causing the machine to traverse the core longitudinally at a predetermined rate relatively thereto, and for rotating the flexible material as it is delivered to the core so as to apply the material helically thereto. It will be appreciated, of course, that where the invention is applied to the lapping of additional tape, as aforesaid, to a cable or conductor, the traversing means will either cause the machine to remain stationary in space (but to move relatively to the conductor passing to the former) or to move slowly away from the former.

t Preferably the driving connection by which the machine is caused to traverse the conductor may be interrupted at will, so as to enable the machine to traverse the conductor independently thereof.

The tape may advantageously be applied from a reel which is rotated about the conductor. As in many taping machines, the reel may be arranged with its axis at and degree of lapping required.

right angles to the direction in which the tape approaches the conductor, this angle of approach depending on the width of tape, the degree of overlap required between the edges of the wound tape and the diameter of the conductor. To vary this angle of approach, the reel may be mounted on an adjustable swivel. However, it is preferred to employ a more compact arrangement constituting a particular feature of the invention and believed to be new in itself. According to this feature of the invention, the tape passes from the reel or other tape holder over an angularly adjustable guide to the cable. By this arrangement the reel or the like can be mounted close to the axis of rotation of the machine, the different angles of approach being catered for by adjusting the guide. Thus, the guide may be a bar that lies in, and is angularly adjustable in, a flat rotating plane which also contains the axis of the cable or other core and the axis of the reel. Then the tape may be arranged to pass round an initial guide, which may act as a support for the bar, and ensures that the tape approaches the bar in the same plane, no matter how much tape has been unwound from the reel. When employed in conjunction with a coil winding process, as aforesaid, the compactness of this arrangement restricts interference with the winding operations.

Very often it is desirable to apply two or more superimposed servings of tape to the conductor and the machine is then provided with two or more sources of tape and two or more adjustable guides. At least one of the guides may then be made radially adjustable as well as angularly adjustable so that, not only may the angle of approach be varied but also the longitudinal relationship between the layers of tape. This enables the required spacing between the joints in the different layers to be set as required.

It will be appreciated that the machine accommodates the variations in the position of the conductor in winding a rectangular former, because the machine :is located on the conductor itself and because the machine can be lightly constructed so that it will not cause the conductor unduly to sag, conductors normally being kept under sufficient tension during winding to hold the weight of a few pounds. In order to keep the weight of the machine as low as possible it is driven by a separate source of power through one or more flexible connections. For example, there may be one such connection from a single electric motor serving both the traversing mechanism and the tape winding mechanism. Then, in the absence of any gear adjustment the relative speeds of these two mechanisms is fixed and in order to control the degree to which the edges of the tape overlap for different dimensions of conductor, tapes of different widths are used. With a limited range of size of conductor and some small tolerance (comparable with hand taping) on the degree of lapping this method can produce the required result. It has been found desirable, however, where both lapping and butt taping have to be catered for, to reduce the variety required in the width of the tape, to introduce a simple gear change between the traversing mechanism and the tape winding mechanism.

A more versatile arrangement is to employ two flexible drives which may either be driven by separate electric motors or by a single electric motor with a variable speed gearbox interposed between the motor and one of the drives. This enables the gear change in the machine to be dispensed with and variations in the width of tape, subject to the well known variations imposed by the diameter of the conductor, are not required. The speed of traverse may be kept constant and the speed of the tape winding mechanism adjusted to suit the conductor sijze From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the machine is specially adapted to the use of straight cut woven tapes (usually varnished as well) instead of the more usually employed bias cut tape which, in many materials, cannot be obtained in continuous lengths. Straight cut tapes are not so elastic as bias cut tapes and some are so inelastic that it is not possible for them to overlap without crinkling. Thus, where more than one layer is required, as many tapes as there are layers are applied, a butt joint being used in each layer. With elastic material, only one tape need be used, on the other hand. For example, for two thicknesses, half lapping is employed, and for three thicknesses, two-thirds lapping. The machine is well suited to all these Van'- ations, although for the type of work for which it is primarily intended, not more than two superimposed layers are generally required.

Advantageously the machine is caused to traverse the core by traverse rollers between which the core is resiliently gripped, manually operated mechanism being provided for simultaneously withdrawing the rollers in opposite directions to disconnect the traversing action. The traversing means may be located in a casing and the reel or reels may be arranged to rotate about a support on the casing.

In some adaptations of the invention it is suificient to arrange for the cable or the like to be threaded through the machine from end to end. Where, however, it is desired to apply the machine to a length of cable that is already extending between two devices, such as a drum and a coil winding mechanism, it is advantageous to apply the machine to the length of cable without the necessity for cutting or disconnecting the cable. According to a very important feature of the invention, therefore, the machine is slotted laterally to enable it to be applied to a core without the necessity for threading it through the machine.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one construction in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, .with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a machine for Winding lengths of tape on a cable.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic rear view of the machine,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the machine shown partly in section,

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV--IV in Figure 3, with certain outer covers being shown removed,

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional plans of details of the assembly shown in Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a diagram of gear mechanism employed in the machine,

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of clutch mechanism employed in the. machine.

Figures 9 and 10 are side and front elevations respectively of an assembly at the front end of the machine, and Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sections through details.

This example is furnished with a casing 1 having a tubular support 2 extending forwardly therefrom. The tape winding mechanism, including two reels 4, 5, rotates on this support and the traversing mechanism designated generally by the reference letter T for imparting a predetermined relative feeding movement between the machine and cable 6 (Figures 1 and 2) is mounted in the casing 1. The cable passes in a straight line through the machine, and to avoid' having to thread the cable through the machine and enable the machine to be mounted laterally on a cable already extending between a drum and a coiling machine, the casing is formed with a lateral slot 7 and the tubular support is formed with a registering slot 7a.

The casing 1 comprises a peripheral portion 8 closed on opposite sides by covers, the cover 9 on the slotted side being divided to permit the lateral insertion or withdrawal of the cable through the slot 7. On insertion into the machine, the forward end of the cable is gripped by rollers 10, 11 which are manually caused to grip the cable resiliently on opposite sides, by means of mechanism to be described below. Inside the casing 1 the cable is gripped by two traverse rollers 12, 13.

The interior of the casing 1 is provided with arcuate walls 14,. 15 which, with a semi-circular portion 8a of the casing, provide a peripheral bearing for two coaxial assemblies on which the traverse rollers 12, 13 are respectively mounted. The first of these assemblies comprises circular plates 16, 17 and a segmental plate 18 tied together by bars 19, 20 to constitute a unit. The traverse roller 12 is fixed to a shaft 21 journalled in the plates 16, 17, 18 and carrying a worm Wheel 22. The second one of the said assemblies comprises a circular plate 23 and a segmental plate 24 tied together by a bar 25. The traverse roller 13 is fixed to a shaft 26 journalled in the plates 23, 24 and carrying a gear wheel 27. Owing to the fact that these two assemblies have to rotate in opposite directions about a common axis through a comparatively small angle for the purpose of causing the traverse rollers 12, 13 to grip or release a cable, the shaft 21 passes through an arcuate slot 28 in the circular plate 23 and the shaft 26 passes through an arcuate slot 29 in the circular plate 17. Also the bar 20 between the plates 17 and 18 passes through an arcuate slot 30 in the plate 23.

Tension springs 31, 32 are respectively connected to the two aforesaid assemblies so as to tend to rotate them in opposite directions about the central axis A (Figure 3) of the circular plates 16, 17, 23, the rotation being arrested by the engagement of the traverse rollers 12, 13 with the cable 6. The remote ends of the springs 31, 32 are attached at 33, 34 to the casing. In order to separate the traverse rollers 12, 13 from one another and from the cable 6, a handle 36 is moved towards a handle 35 as viewed in Figure 3, the handle 35 being attached to the casing 1 and the handle 36 to the assembly comprising the plates 16, 17, 18 and the traverse roller 12. The handle. 36 projects through an arcuate slot 33 in the peripheral portion 8 of the casing 1, and when it is moved clockwise about the axis A (Figure 3), so as also to turn the shaft 21 about the said axis in the clockwise direction, against the action of the spring 31, a pin 37 (Figure 4) on the plate 17 (Figure 4) engages a lever 38 so as to swing it about a pivot 39 on the peripheral part 8 of the casing 1. The movement is transmitted from the lever 38 to a pin 40 on the plate 23, so that the assembly comprising the plates 23, 24 and the traverse roller 13 is also rotated. As the pins 37 and 40 are respectively on opposite sides of the axis AA (Figure 4), the rotation of the two assemblies takes place in opposite directions. To return the traverse rollers to their gripping positions, the handle 36 is released and the springs 31, 32 rotate the shafts 21 and 26, respectively counterclockwise and clockwise about the axis A (Figure 3).

The drive is transmitted to the traverse rollers 12, 13 by a flexible driving shaft 41 connected to a shaft 42 journalled in the handle 36 and carrying worms 43, 44. The worm 43 meshes with the worm wheel 22 so as to drive the traverse roller 12. The worm 44 drives a worm wheel 45 on a shaft 46 journalled in the plates 16, 17 of the first assembly. The shaft 46 has fixed thereto a gear wheel 47 which meshes with a gear wheel 48 I0- tatable on a pin 49 fixed to the centre of the circular plate 17. The gear wheel 48 meshes with the gear wheel 27 and so drives the traverse roller 13. Referring to Figure 3, the traverse roller 12 and the gear wheel 47 are both rotated in a clockwise direction so that the axial reactions on the worms are opposed to one another, thus eliminating the necessity for thrust bearings. Suitable journal bearings (not shown) are, however, provided for the shaft 42 in the handle 36, which is shown in Figure 4 as extending diametrically over the circular plate 16' to which it is fixed. Slots (not shown) are" formed est tes in the handle 36 through which project the worm wheels 22, 45 to engage the worms 43, 44. It'will be observed that all the gearing interposed between the shaft 42 and the traverse rollers 12, 13 remains in engagement at all times during the movement of the rollers 12, 13 towards and away from one another.

At the back of the machine the cable passes between a flange 50 of a steadying roller 51 and the circular plate 23, the steadying roller being rotatably mounted on a spindle 52 on the plate 23. The purpose of this roller is to limit sideways movement of the machine when running on narrow gauge wire.

Turning now to the forward end of the machine, the forward end of the tubular support 2 has fixed thereto a collar 53 cast integrally with flanges 54, 55, 56. The

flanges 55, 56 are coplanar and formed with lateral flanges 57, 58 that register with the slot 7a and serve to guide the cable laterally into and out of the space between the guide rollers 10, 11 when the machine is being laterally mounted on and dismounted from a cable. The roller is mounted on a spindle 59 carried by arms 60, 61 pivoted respectively to the flanges 54, 55 about the axis 62. The roller 11 is mounted on a spindle 63 carried by arms 64, 65 pivoted respectively to the flanges 54, 56 about an axis 66.

, A spiral spring 67 serves to urge the rollers 10, 11 towards one another so as to grip the cable. The centre of this spring 67 is anchored to a boss 68 fixed; to the flange 54, and the outer end of the spring is anchored at 69 to a plate 70 rotatably mounted on the boss 68. The plate 70 is formed with spiral slots 71, 72 that engage pins 73, 74 respectively fixed to the arms 60, 64 the pins projecting through slots 75, 76 in the flange 54. The spring 67 tends to turn the plate 70 in such a direction as to cause the slots 71, 72 to urge the pins 73, 74 towards one another, thus forcing the rollers 10, 11 on the cable. The nose of the assembly shown in Figures 9 and 10 is provided with a circular cover 77 furnished with a lateral slot 78.

The rollers 10, 11 are automatically separated to release the cable 6 when the traversing mechanism is disconnected as aforesaid by means of the handle 36. For this purpose a lever 79 is pivoted at 80 inside the tubular support 2. The outer end of this lever bears against a stop 81 on the plate.70 and the inner end enters aslot 83a in the disc 17. Thus, when the disc 17 is caused to rotate by means of the handle 36, the lever 79 is turned about the pivot 80 (Figure 3) to press on the stop 81 and turn the plate 70 counterclockwise as shown in Figure 9, thereby separating the rollers 10, 11. There is some clearance between the inner end of the lever 79 and the slot 83a to allow for variations due to the different peripheral shapes of the rollers 10, 11 as compared with the traverse rollers 12, 13. i

The tape winding mechanism is mounted on a sleeve 82 which rotates on the tubular support 2 and which projects a short distance into the casing 1, the tubular support 2 extending slightly further into the casing and being fixed thereto beyond the sleeve at the arcuate walls 14, 15. Within the casing the sleeve 82 carries a coaxial arcuate row of external teeth 83 (Figure 7). The sleeve 82, like the tubular support 2, is formed with a longitudinal slot 84 which registers with the slot 7 in the tubular support 2 in one position of the sleeve 82. The gap between the ends of the arcuate row of teeth is of course,

located at this gap, and to ensure continuity of drivethe arcuate row of teeth 83 is driven through the medium of two intermediate pinions 85, 86, at least one of which is always in mesh with the arcuate row of teeth 83. The pinions 85, 86 are rotatably mounted about fixed axes on the casing 1 and are constantly in mesh with a gear wheel 87 free to rotate on a fixed spindle 88 on the casing 1. The gear wheel 87 may be connected by a clutch sleeve 89 (Figure 8),to a worm wheel 90 driven by a worm 91 on a shaft 92 journalled in the-hand1e-35 and driven'by a" flexible driving shaft 93. Therefore, so long as the shaft 93 is rotating and the clutch is engaged, the sleeve 82 is continuously rotated on the tubular support 2.

The clutch sleeve 89 is slidably mounted outside a bush 94 on the worm wheel and is constrained to rotate therewith by a pin and slot connection 95. To engage the clutch the sleeve 89 is axially moved by the actionof a spring so as to overlap a bush 97 on the gear Wheel 87 and cause dog teeth within the sleeve 89 to engage dog teeth 99 on the bush 97. A lever 96 engages a peripheral groove in the sleeve 89.

. Two separate means are provided for disengaging the clutch so as to enable the sleeve 82 to be turnedto bring the slot 84 into register with the slots 7, 7a. The first of these comprises a pin 98 on the segmental plate 24 which, when the handle 36 is moved towards the handle 35 to disconnect the traversing mechanism, takes up some lost motion in a slot 101 (in a link 102 pivoted at 103 to the lever 96) and then withdraws the sleeve 89, against the action of the spring 100, to the position shown in Figure .8. The second means comprises a knob 104 (Figure 2) which is turned to cause a spiral cam 105 to act on an abutment 106 on the link 102 so as to thrust it to the right against the action of the spring 100 to the position of Figure 8. When this second means is in action, therefore, the slot 101 slides over the pin 98.

The flexible shafts 41, 93 are geared together through the medium of a variable speed gear box G, the power being received from a common electric motor M. The variable speed gear box enables the speed of traverse to be kept constant and the speed of the tape winding mechanism to be adjusted to the diameter of the cable and th degree of lapping required.

The sleeve82 is formed with an arcuate rib 107. Fixed to the rib 107, on opposite sides thereof with their axes in a plane containing the axis of the cable 6 are two reel spindles 103, 109, which are slightly inclined so that the reels 4, 5 subtend a small acute angle bisected by the conductor and are tilted in such a way as to deliver the tapes 112, 113 forward in a direction such that it is inclined slightly away from the conductor. The sleeve 82 has a bell-shaped enlargement 114 at its forward end which rotates about the assembly carrying the rollers 10, 11. On opposite sides of the enlargement 114 are pillars 115, 116, one parallel to each spindle 108, 109. These pillars 115, 116 act as initial guides round which the tapes 112, 113 are drawn from their respective reels 4, 5. Thus the tape 112 is drawn from behind the reel 4 as viewed in Figure 3 and is deflected by the pillar 115 substantially into the rotating plane containing the spindle 108 and pillar 115. The tape 113 is drawn from the front of the reel 5 and is deflected by the pillar 116 substantially into the said plane which also contains the spindle 109 and the pillar 116. The tapes 112, 113 continue substantially in the said plane as far as two inclined bars 117, 118, round which they are guided so that they travel, still substantially in the aforesaid rotating plane, to the cable 6.

The two pillars are tubular and formed at their outer ends with diametrical slots 119, 120 into which the inclined guide bars extend, the guide bars being pivoted inside the pillars on transverse pins 121, 122. The guide bars extend forward from their respective pillars in a direction such that they are inclined inwards towards the conductor, the inclination being determined by abutments 123, 124 inside the pillars against which the bars bear behind their pivots. Tension springs 125, 126 connecting the bars, at points ahead of their pivots, to the inner ends of the pillars, maintain the bars in engagement with the abutments. To alter the inclination of the bars, the abutments are adjustable alongthe pillars by screw 127, 128 which are screwed into threaded bores in the abutments and which extend through the outer ends of the pillars. These screws are constrained against longitudinal movement with respect to the pillars by flanges 129, 130 and areturned by means of finger pieces 131, 132:- ati their outer ends, Each; abutment is held against rotation by a projection 133,134, that extends into the adjacent slot in the pillar. To enablethe radial position of the bar on one side to be adjusted relatively to that on the other side, the; pivot 1 21, abutment 123 and adjusting screw 127 for the bar 117 are mounted on an inner sleeve 135 adjustable longitudinally in the pillar. This sleeve is slotted at 136 in alignment with the slots in the pillar to accommodate the bar. The outer end of the sleeve has a flange 137 which has rotatably mounted thereon by virtue of flanges 138, 139, an outer sleeve 140 which is externally knurled and internally screw-threaded to engage an external thread 141 on the pillar. Thus, by turning the outer sleeve 140, the inner sleeve 135 is axially adjusted.

Each spindle 108, 109 is formed with a flange 142 and an annular plate 143 of bakelized fabric is slidably mounted on the spindle, compression springs 144 being interposed between the flange and plate. The reel is furnished withan internal flange145 which is frictionally held-between the plate 143 and a second annular plate 146, of friction material, outward movement of the assembly under the action of the springs 144 being limited by a plate 147 fixed to the top of the spindle by a screw 148. The plates 143, 146 and flange 145 provide a friction clutch ensuring the correct tension in the tape as it is withdrawn.

If desired the machine can be suspended by means of a hook applied to a hole 14-9, Figures 1 and 2.

Where it is desired to provide a twospeed drive for the tape winding mechanism the clutch sleeve 89 may be arranged toconnect the worm wheel 90 either to the gear Wheel 87 or to a second gear wheel connected by pairs of intermediate gears to an internal arcuate row of teeth on the sleeve 32, concentric with the teeth 83'.

I claim:

1. A portable machine for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, said machine comprising, in combination, a frame, two traverse rollers having their axes at right angles to the core, for engaging. the core on opposite sides and rotatably mounted on said frame, resilient means adapted to urge said rollers to grip said core firmly, manually operated means operative simultaneously to move both said rollers relative to the frame so as to withdraw said rollers-inopposite directions to interrupt the traversing action, means mounted on and rotatable relatively to said frame for winding the flexible material on the core being fed through said frame, a driving motor, rotary means for connecting both said traverse rollers directly to said motor, and means for driving said rotatable means, said frame being adapted when idle to be moved about freely and when operating to be located in space only by the core.

2. Aportable machine according to claim 1, comprisingalso two sub-frames rotatable in opposite directions about a common axis relatively to said first mentioned frame by said manually operated means counter to said resilient means, said rollers being mounted respectively on saidsub-frames.

3. A portable. machine according to claim 1, comprising also two sub-frames rotatable in opposite directions about a common axis relatively to said first mentioned frame by said manually operated means counter to said resilient means, said rollers being mounted respectively on said sub-frames, a gear wheel coaxial with said common axis mounted on one of said sub-frames, gearing on the; second ofsaid sub-frames providing a driving connection between said gear wheel and the traverse roller on said second sub-frame in all relative positions of the two sub-frames, said driving. means including a driving connection ontheflfirst sub-frame for driving both said gear wheel and the traverse roller on the first sub-frame.

4. A portable machine according to claim 1, comprising also two sub-frames rotatable in opposite directions abouta common axis relativel-y to, said first-mentioned frame by said, manually operated means counter to said resilient means, said rollers being mounted respectively on said sub-frames, and said manually operated means comprising a handle fixed to one said sub-frame and lever mechanism interposed between said two sub-frames whereby the movement of said handle is transmitted in the reverse direction to the second sub-frame.

5. A portable machine for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, said machine comprising in combination, a frame, two traverse rollers for engaging the core on opposite sides, resilient means urging said rollers to grip the core, a handle movably mounted on said frame and operatively connected to separate said rollers from the core, a rotatable shaft in said handle for transmitting driving motion to said rollers, gearing interposed between said shaft and said rollers, a second handle fixed to said frame, means mounted on and rotatable relatively to said frame for winding the flexible material on the core, a second rotatable shaft in said second handle for driving said rotatable means, and gearing interposed between said second driving connection and said rotatable means, said frame being adapted when idle to be moved about freely and whenoperating to be located in space only by the core.

6. A portable machine for Winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, said machine comprising in combination, a frame, means carried by said frame for feeding the flexible material axially relatively to said frame, means for driving said feeding means, manually operated means for interrupting the action of said feeding means, means mounted on and rotatable relatively to said frame for winding the flexible a material on the core, means for driving said rotatable means, a clutch interposed between said last-mentioned means and said driving means, means associated with said manually operated means for disengaging said clutch when the action of said feeding means is interrupted, and second manually operated means for disengaging said clutch independently of said first-mentioned manually operated means, said frame being adapted when idle to be moved about freely and when operating to be located in space only by the core.

7. A portable machine for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, said machine comprising, in combination, a frame, means carried by said frame for feeding the flexible material through said frame, means mounted on and rotatable relatively to said frame for winding the flexible material on the core, means for positively driving said feeding means, and means for driving said rotatable means, said frame, said feeding means and said rotatable means havingslots therein opening outwardly thereof and alignable with each other, whereby, when the machine is mounted on the core, to receive the core laterally, that is at right angles to the line along which the core moves through said frame, and the, machine being adapted when idle to be moved about freely and when operating to be located in space only by the core.

8. A portable machine according to claim 7, in which said means for driving said rotatable means comprises an arcuate row of gear teeth having its ends defining a gap registering with the sides of the slot in said rotatable means, and a pair of circular gear wheels arranged so that one of said gear wheels is always in engagement with said arcuate row while the gap is in register with one of the gear wheels.

9. A portable machine for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, said machine comprising in combination a casing, a support extending from said casing, rollers mounted in said casing for traversing the core, electric motor means, a flexible rotary shaft connected to the motor means, gear means connecting the shaft to the rollers for driving said rollers, slqtted; means, mounted, on and rotatable relatively to said frame for winding the flexible material on the core, a second flexible rotary shaft connected to said motor means, gear means connecting said second flexible shaft to said rotatable means to drive the same, guide rollers for the core mounted on said support at a point remote from said casing, resilient means urging said guide rollers to grip the core, said casing and said support being slotted so as to co-operate with said slotted rotatable means in enabling the core to be passed laterally into engagement with said traverse rollers and said guide rollers, said casing and support being adapted when idle to be moved about freely and when operating to be located in space only by the core.

10. A portable machine according to claim 9, comprising also manually operated means for withdrawing said traverse rollers from the core, and means interconnecting said traverse rollers and said guide rollers for simultaneously withdrawing the latter from the core.

11. Apparatus for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, comprising, in combination, means for feeding the core along a predetermined path, a member rotatable about said path, means for rotatably mounting two reels on said member with the axes of the two reels separate from one another and each subtending substantially a right angle with said path, two deflecting means mounted on said rotatable means to be associated respectively with said two reels, each said deflecting means comprising, in one and the same plane as the associated reel axis, a primary guide and a secondary guide located so that flexible material drawn off the reel can be deflected by said primary guide into said plane and then deflected by said secondary guide towards the core, and means for adjusting the radial distances of said secondary guides relatively to one another so as to adjust the relative positions of the two spirals of the flexible material wound on the core.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which said two secondary guides are angularly adjustable so as to vary the angles at which the lengths of flexible material approach the core.

13. Apparatus for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, comprising, in combination, means for feeding the core along a predetermined path, a member rotatable about said path, means for rotatably mounting a reel on said member with the axis of said reel subtending substantially a right angle with said path, means for rotating said member about said path so that flexible material is drawn ofi? from the reel,

and means mounted on said rotatable member for deflecting flexible material so drawn off said reel towards the core with its longitudinal centerline at an obtuse angle to a plane perpendicular to the reel axis, said deflecting means comprising a primary guide and a secondary guide angularly adjustable with respect to said primary guide, said reel axis, said primary guide and said secondary guide all lying in one flat plane and so relatively located that the flexible material drawn off the reel is deflected by said primary guide into said plane and then deflected by said secondary guide towards the core.

14. Apparatus for winding a length of flexible material on an elongated core, such as an electrical cable, comprising, in combination, means for feeding the core along a predetermined path, a member rotatable about said path, means for rotatably mounting a reel on said member with the axis of said reel subtending substantially a right angle with said path, means for rotating said member about said path so that flexible material is drawn ofl from the reel, and means mounted on said rotatable member for deflecting flexible material so drawn off said reel towards the core with its longitudinal centerline at an obtuse angle to a plane perpendicular to the reel axis, said deflecting means comprising a pillar, a guide rod pivoted to said pillar, said reel axis, said guide rod and said pillar lying substantially in one flat plane, resilient means adapted to turn said guide rod about its axis in one direction in said plane, and adjustable abutment means operative to hold said rod in adjusted angular relationship to said pillar, the arrangement being such that the flexible material drawn off the reel is deflected by said pillar into said plane and then deflected by said bar towards the core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,694 Colley May 7, 1901 2,174,754 Miller Oct. 3, 1939 2,271,528 Pfohl Feb. 3, 1942 2,388,018 Stover Oct. 30, 1945 2,479,635 Neale Aug. 23, 1949 2,657,866 Lungstrom Nov. 3, 1953 2,663,544 Harley Dec. 22, 1953 2,733,753 Schlesselman et al. Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,835 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1938 701,571 Germany Jan. 20, 1941 

